Senna vs polyethylene glycol for mechanical preparation the evening before elective colonic or rectal resection: a multicenter controlled trial. French Association for Surgical Research.

HYPOTHESIS: Senna is more efficient than polyethylene glycol as mechanical preparation before elective colorectal surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, single-blind study. SETTING: Multicenter study (18 centers). PATIENTS: Five hundred twenty-three consecutive patients with colonic or rectal carcinoma or sigmoid diverticular disease, undergoing elective colonic or rectal resection followed by immediate anastomosis. INTERVENTION: Two hundred sixty-two patients were randomly allotted to receive senna (1 package diluted in a glass of water) and 261 to receive polyethylene glycol (2 packages diluted in 2-3 L of water), administered the evening before surgery. All patients received 5% povidone iodine antiseptic enemas (2 L) the evening and the morning before surgery. Ceftriaxone sodium and metronidazole were given intravenously at anesthetic induction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Degree of colonic and rectal cleanliness. RESULTS: Colonic cleanliness was better (P=.006), fecal matter in the colonic lumen was less fluid (P=.001), and the risk for moderate or large intraoperative fecal soiling was lower (P=.11) with senna. Overall, clinical tolerance did not differ significantly between groups, but 20 patients receiving polyethylene glycol (vs 16 with senna) had to interrupt their preparation, and 15 patients (vs 8 with senna) complained of abdominal distension. Senna, however, was better tolerated (P = .03) in the presence of stenosis. There was no statistically significant difference found in the number of patients with postoperative infective complications (14.7% vs 17.7%) or anastomotic leakage (5.3% vs 5.7%) with senna and polyethylene glycol, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mechanical preparation before colonic or rectal resection with senna is better and easier than with polyethylene glycol and should be proposed in patients undergoing colonic or rectal resection, especially patients with stenosis.

[Acute pancreatitis in rheumatoid purpura. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Pancréatite aiguë au cours d'un purpura rhumatoïde. A propos de deux cas.

Abdominal pain observed in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is usually attributed to digestive tract involvement. Pancreatic involvement is a rare and benign complication. The authors report two cases of acute pancreatitis as a complication of HSP. Pancreatitis was confirmed in both cases by clinical presentation and increase of serum amylase levels. Abdominal echography has demonstrated ascites or alithiasic cholecystitis without pancreatic abnormality. The prognosis was favourable in each case. Pathophysiologic mechanism is presumably a vasculitis of the small vessels specially within the pancreas leading to inflammation. Abdominal pain can be explained by a digestive tract involvement but also by an acute pancreatitis. This later occurrence is not as exceptional as reported in the literature. Thus, serum amylase levels should be evaluated in patients with HSP who have intense epigastric or abdominal pain, in order to recognize a pancreatic involvement.

[A direct approach and a crease-resistant prosthesis: two simplifications of subperitoneal hernioplasty]. / Une voie d'abord directe et une prothèse infroissable: deux simplifications de la hernioplastie sous-péritonéale.

With experience of six already known techniques, the authors have developed a personal procedure combining three main principles: 1) large and direct exposure of the preperitoneal space, 2) the mesh, supple but not soft, needing no fixation, 3) outline of this mesh adapted to the concave shape of the pelvic wall, and avoiding the risk of a ventral hernia. The original points of this technique are the following: approach along the lateral border of the rectus muscle through its sheath, the initial exposure of the iliopsoas muscle and retropubic space, and the cutting of the mesh extending far beyond the borders of the inguinal and femoral orifices, with a flap reinforcing the posterior aspect of the rectus muscle. One hundred and two consecutive patients (173 hernias, 48 recurrences) were operated upon, and all but two were followed for a mean period of 36.8 months. Morbidity was low, with no prosthesis infection, and there was no recurrence or incisional hernia. The authors emphasize the simplicity and the rapidity of this technique, without advocating it as a routine operation, since it carries, like all prosthetic techniques, the potential for sepsis and preperitoneal fibrosis.

[Laparoscopy-assisted colonic polypectomy or how to be helped by laparoscopy to prevent colectomy in benign colonic polyps considered to be unresectable by colonoscopy]. / La polypectomie colique coelio-assistée, ou comment s'aider de la coelioscopie pour éviter une colectomie pour les polypes coliques bénins jugés inextirpables en coloscopie?

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the role of laparoscopic surgery in all patients presenting with colonic polyps. From April 1994 to April 1996, 16 consecutive patients were treated. The laparoscopy starts the procedure, then a colonoscopy easily and rapidly locates the colonic lesion. Under laparoscopic supervision a new snare polypectomy is often possible. If polypectomy remains impossible, a mini-laparotomy is performed above the polyp and allows polypectomy by extra-peritoneal colotomy. In one case, the polyp was not found on colonoscopy. Colonoscopic polypectomy was possible in 6 cases (40%), and 9 mini-laparotomies were necessary (60%). No colectomy was performed. The final histologic result showed two Dukes A carcinomas justifying secondary wide colectomy. Laparoscopy-assisted polypectomy is a safe and efficient procedure, allows complete excision of polyps and may avoid a colonic resection.

[Primary epiploic appendicitis]. / Les appendicites épiploïques primitives.

Primary epiploic appendicitis include torsion and primary inflammation of appendices epiploicae. These uncommon pathologies have been until present exceptionally diagnosed before surgery. Clinical and biological features have a small specificity. However, US and CT findings suggest the diagnosis. Our study reports 6 cases.